QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 5426)
RA 5426 grants a “temporary permit” to construct, maintain, and operate private fixed point-to-point, coastal, aeronautical, and land based and land mobile radio stations in the Philippines for the reception and transmission of radio communications, subject to conditions stated in the Act.
The permit is granted to C. A. Sison Enterprises, Inc., including its successors or assigns.
The permit covers stations in Manila and places the corporation may select, but such selection is subject to approval of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications.
No. The grantee may not engage in domestic telecommunications business without further special assent of Congress, because RA 5426 is limited to securing the right to construct, install, maintain, and operate specified private radio stations.
To better serve the public in the dissemination of news and events of national interest, while enabling the grantee to construct and operate private radio stations justified by its interest.
No fees shall be charged by the grantee for communications regarding the grantee’s business only.
It requires the grantee to construct and operate its stations so they do not interfere with the operation of other radio stations in the Philippines.
The grantee, its successors or assigns, must hold national, provincial, city, and municipal governments harmless from claims, demands, or actions arising from accidents or injuries to persons or property caused by construction or operation of its radio stations.
No. Section 6 subjects the grantee and its successors or assigns to Philippine corporation laws now existing or enacted in the future.
They may operate in the medium frequency (MF), high frequency (HF), and very high frequency (VHF) bands that may be assigned to it by the Secretary of Public Works and Communications.
In time of war, insurrection, public peril, calamity or disaster, the President may cause closing of the stations or authorize temporary use or possession by any department of the Government upon payment of just compensation.
Yes. Section 9 allows amendment, alteration, or repeal by Congress when public interest requires, and clarifies the permit is not an exclusive grant.
It means RA 5426 does not prevent Congress or the government from granting similar or other privileges to others; the permit is not exclusive.
They are for the reception and transmission of radio communications using radiotelegraph or radiotelephone apparatus, as authorized under the permit.
The grantee has a statutory duty under Section 4 not to interfere; violation would constitute breach of the Act’s conditions and may justify regulatory action consistent with public interest and enforcement mechanisms.
The Act took effect upon its approval (Section 10), and the text notes it was enacted without Executive approval, meaning it became law through legislative enactment rather than the President’s approval.